Method and means for gas ignition.



, H. LYON. METHOD AND MEANS FOR GAS IGNITION.

APPLIGATION FILED FEB. 2, 1910.

1,118,940. Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

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l 15mg STATE-S PATENT o iuoE.

nowaan LYON, or GLOUCESTER CITY, NEW JERSEY, assrenoa TO WELS'BACH mm,

' courm, A. conronarron on NEW JERSEY.

METHOD MEANS FOR GA S IGNITION.

To all whom it may concera Be it known that I, HOWARD LYON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gloucester City, in the county of Camden and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods and Means for Gas Ignition, of which the following is a description.

My invention relates to a novel method and means for igniting a jet or current of combustible gas, for example, ordinary illuminating gas, or combustible vapor such as alcohol, gasolene, etc., all of which are hereinafter referred to simply as gas.

It has been proposed heretofore to ignite gas currents bymeans of a wire rendered Incandescent by an electric current, said \virebeing situated in orclose to the outlet ture,at one point it may be rich, at another point weak or lean. If the ignition wire is combustible gas is situated at a point where the mixture is too .lean, the gas will not ignite, and if at a point where the mixture is very rich the gas will ignite and will at the same time develop such a high temperature that the wire will burn up Within a short time, that is after a comparatively few ignitions. If further the Wire be located at a point Where the unmixed or slightly mixed with air there can of course be no ignition. Furthermore, if by experimenting with gas of a given. richness a person determines a position where he may place the wire so that it will be in a mixture that is neither too rich nor too lean, he will find that upon varying the pressure (either increasing or diminishing it) the wire will no longer be situated in a favorable position but will. be where the gas is either too rich or too lean. And moreover, if instead of varying the pressure he maintains it con- .stant but varies the quality of the gas (making it either richer or leaner) he will find Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

Application filed February 2, 1810. Serial No. 541,600.

that the position of the wire is no longer favorable and that it will either 'fail to ignite or will soon burn up.

After careful study and experimentation,

I have been able to analyze the problem' above presented, to determlne the necessary conditions governing the location of the ignition wire and. have invented a successful method and apparatus for igniting a gas et or current which form the subject matter of the present application and are especially well adapted for the ignition of inverted gas burners. In practising the said method I mount an ignition wire or filament at adistance from the burner head, liberate the gas into the body of air with which the lamp is normally filled, direct the same into the vicinity of the filament, and simultaneously dilute the mixture thus formed with air and energize the filament. When the gas is first turnedpn, the filament (preferably a wire- I of platinum or platinum alloy) is surrounded by air. This air is then replaced by a mixture of gas and air which becomes progressively richer asthe gas continues to fill the lamp. The time quickly arrives when the richness is sufficient to cause the gas to ignite, whereupon the usual explosion takes place, the gas. in the lamp is consumed and the jet burns at the burner head, thus auto- ,matically cuttingrofi all gas from the ignition filament. his explosion of course takes place at the very moment'that an 1n-. flammable or' critical m xture reaches the filament, and a rich mixture can therefore never reach the filament. By reason of this fact, the ignition filament is protected agalnst the development of excessive temperatures which would cause the same to burn up after comparatively few operations. It is immaterial what may be the pressure of the gas supply or its quality. An increase of pres sure or of richness or both means merely a shorter interval before an inflammable or critical mixture reaches the ignition filament, and vice versa,

interval required for the proper mixture to reach the ignition filamen In order that the invention maybe more fully understood, reference is hereby made a decrease of pressure or of richness or both merely increases the a to the accompanying drawing of whichcures one end of 'a'conducting wire 15.

the same, partly in section in a plane at vided with t v alloy is secured at its to the sleeve 9z- The wire orfilament 16 isplied t'oa' w'll known "form Figure 1 is a side elevation, partlyin section, showing my improved afpparatus apinverted i'ncande'scent gas burner. Fig. 2 is an enlarged lon 'tudinal section of the ignition tiibe 'of Fig? 1. Fig. 3 is aside elevation of right angles to the plane {Fig 2. Fig. 4. is a section on line 1--4 of ig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a. bottom plan of Fig. t.

,Thegas b'urne'r of Fig. 1 comprises that the bafiieis so placed as to permit only inverted U-shaped supply a; tube a. which forms a sup ort. for the lamp and is propoint is an opemng 1 abovewhich is mounted a nipple2 having a; flange'3 which is so cured by rivets (not shown) to the canopy e,-the bore of said nipple registering with said opening Upon the nipple 2 is mounted a vertical tube 4 secured by a set screw 5'; The bore-or interior of said tube forms an ignition chamber. Extending diametrically across said tube and through the. walls thereof at a point near-its lower end is any air inlet tube 6, Figs. 2 and- 3. This tube or baille is cut away as shown at 7 forming a trough the bottom of which in cross section is a semicircle.

: Near the upper end of the tube 4: is a pair a of oppositely disposed openings ,8. These an excessive accumulation.

openings prevent of gas before ignition,j and after ignition allow the escape of the products of combustion in a" continuous stream or one.

rent which'causes- -currents of air to be drawn 1n through-the openings-19 here mafter referred to. The upper end of the tube 4 isclosed-by a plug composed ofaflanged metal sleeve 9 secured by a set screw- 10, and an insulating bushing l'l-set thereinand through which passes a headed secured by a nut 13. .A-

conducting. bolt: 12 nut 14 is also threaded on said bolt and se- -very'fine wire 1 6 of' platinum orC-platinum ends'to the supporting conductors 17 and 18 one of which is soldered to the head-of'the bolt 12 and the othersituated centrally with respect to the tube 4 and is so"dispos'ed w1th respect to air inlets 1 9 and- 20 as to be bathed in-air to a. large extent Atthe same time it is pro" tectedby the bafile 6 against the hot prod ucts of combustion rising from the lamp after ignition. The bafile 6 also protects the filament against excessive'temperatures during ignition due to mixtures of too great eusual gas check b,';air inlets c, flash. diaphragm d, globe holder 6, Bun-. sen tube f,

by a screw 31, and aspring 27.. A binding position of Figs. 4 and 5 -so as A'- the ground and back to the battery.

through the openings 19 gas, but is suificient to account of the flow of heat fromthe fila- A ment to theleading in wires or supporting conductors 17 and 18I The width of the baflle is substantially greater than that 'of the active portion of the filament, whereby thefilament, and particularly its active portiomis protected against excessive temperatures during ignition, by reason of the fact a small percentage of the ascending gas to approach the filament andat the same time to permit the free access thereto of atmospheric air entering through the inlets 19 and 20. ---The baflie together with said inlets produce an ignitable mlxture of minimum richness.

, The gas controlling cock may be of any.

desired form, but is preferably constructed so as to-simultaneously admit gas to the pipe a and complete an electrical circuit through the wire prises a body 21 having the usual key 22, from-,which depends a pin 23 of insulat ng material. There is a ring 24 of insulating -15. As shown it com-' material mounted on the body 21,. and a conducting ring 25 on said ring 2 1. Springs 26 and 27 are secured to sa d ring 25 by screws 28 and 29, thev latter oi. which acts as a binding post for a wire connected to one pole of an electric battery, one dry cell being sufficient for the purpose. The other pole of the battery is 'groun connected to the gas supply pipe. The free end of the spring 26 extends outwardly in position to be engaged by the pin 23. An insulating block40 is secured to thebody 21 contact 32 is mounted to be engaged by the post 33 secures the wire 15- to said contact 32. The device is operated as follows: The key of thecock is turned slightly beyond the to cause the sprin to press against the contact 32 and comp ete an electric k tery through the ring 25, spring 27, contact 32, wire 15, bolt-.12, .wires 17 ,16 andA18 ltlo t t e thereon in posltion circuit from the batsame time the gas is admitted to the lamp top' of the canopy 2 and a portion of-it flows throughthe opening .1 into the ignition chamber within the tube 4. Passing around the tube 6 it flows onupward encountering the wire 16 which is bathed in air entering and 20. The electric current which 's at that time.passing through strength which is insuflicient of itself to heat the wire to the kindling temperature of the initiate catalytic ac-v the wire .16 is preferably of a I being injured by the heated products of comment and into proach thereto, is piratedor entrained inward toward the fil tion of the stream of gas upon the said wire. The catalytic action quickly brings the wire to the kindling temperature of the gas whereupon the gas is ignited and the flame immediately consumes all of the gas in the lamp and thereafter burns at the burner "head of the Bunsen tube f in the usual manflame thus established ner. Obviously the. consumes. all of the gas issuingfroin said burnerhead and thereby'automati'cally cuts ofl' all gas from the ignition tube. The heated products of combustion pass out of the lamp in the usual manner through one'or' more openings 12,, only a small portion passing through the opening 1 into the ignition device. Such products, however, set up a current through the tube issuing at the openings 8 which causes air to be drawn in through the openings 19' and 20 thereby coolin the wire 16 and preventing it from bustion, and also by reasonof the inflow of oxygen making the wire moresensitive to future "ignitions. The oxygen appears" to rvivify or energize the platinumgnalfing it more sensitive to the catalytic action hereinbefore referred to. nited the key 22. is released and the' spring 26 thereupon moves the same back sulficiently to open the electric circuit as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Y

aving now described my invention, what Iclaim is:

1. The method of igniting a, current of as which consists-in warming a catalytic ament by an electric current whereby its catalytic activity is increased and directing the as into the vicinity of but at one 'side'of the filament, said gas current causing a current of air to be aspirated or entrained'dire'ctly toward the filament, whereby the rich ness of'themixture 1n the immediate vicinity of thefilament is minimized, substantially as set'forth.

2. The method of regenerating the catalytic filament of a gas ignition: chamber which consists in directing towardsaid filament a current of atmospheric air and a dis tinct and independent current of heated products of combustion, and in deflecting said last named current away from the filathe air current as it ap 'proaches the fi ament, substantially as set fo'rth..

3.- In a gas lamp, ignition means comprising a-catalytic filament, means for applying an electric current theretowhereby its catalytic activity is increased, an ignition cham ber within which the filament is situated, said chamber having one or more air inlets adjacent the filament, and means for directing the gas current into the vicinity of the lament in "such a way that a direct apprevented and air is as- After the lamp is ig- Inent through the inlet or inlets, substantially as set forth.

' In a gas lamp, the combination of a burner head, a canopy above the same and provided with an aperture, an ignition chamber'having a gas inlet communicating with said aperture, a gas outlet at or near the top thereof, one or more air inlets in its intermediate portion, and a heated filament adjacent thereto, said movin gas and heated filament acting in conjunction to draw air through said air inlet or inlets.

5. In a gas lamp, the combination of a burner head, a canopy above the same and having an aperture eccentric thereto, an'i nition chamber in communication with said aperture, a filament situated within the ignition chamber, means for applying an elec t'ric current thereto and an air inlet adjacent said filament. 1

6. A gas lamp comprising a burner head, a supply pipe, a canopy surrounding said supply pipe above the level of the burner head, an openi in said canopy out of alinement with said burner head, an ignition chamber communicating with said opening, and having an inlet opening directly to the atmosphere,'a filament within said ignitionated immediately above said transverse member and protected therebyagainst access of an excessively'rich mixture and means for applying anelectric current thereto.

8, An ignition tube, a transverse member within the bore thereof and of smaller area than said bore, a conducting filament situated immediately above said transverse member andprotected thereby against access of an excessively rich mixture, means for applying an electric current thereto, and one or more air inlet openings in the wall of said tube adjacent said wire- 9. An ignition tube, a smaller tube extending transversely thereto through the walls thereof, aportion of said smaller tube being cut away, and a conducting filament situated above the'bottom of said transverse tube and in position to receive air drawn into said transverse tube.

10. An; ignition tube, a smaller'tube extending transversely thereto, the upper portion of said smaller tube being cut away to form an air inlet, and a conducting filament uncut portion of the smaller tube. v

11. An ignition tube, a transverse troughshaped member within the bore thereof, a conducting and filament adjacent the open side of said trough and extendingin the same general direction as the edges thereof.

' mounted .therein, a bafii 2g; openings for admitting -,12. :An ignition tube'having one or more air inlets in the walls thereof, a transverse trough-shaped -member within the bore thereof-adjacent said air inlet,'and a conducting filament adjacent the open side of said trough. and extending in the same general direction as the edges thereof;

. 13. An ignition tube, a conductive filament mounted therein, albaflie for protecting said filament and of smaller area than the bore 'of'said tube and means fortubefor the discharge of said gases, a conductive filament within saidtube, and one or more air inlets'fadjacent sa'd filament;

16. Agas lamp comprising a a canopy above the level of the same, an

' aperture in'said canopy eccentric thereto, a

for applying an chambercommunicatmg with said aperture and having an'air inletabove the'canopy, and ignition means within said chamber ad- 'acent saidinlet, substantially as set forth.

17. In a-gas lamp, an inverted cup-shapedcanopy having an aperture-near'its top, an igniter comprising a body having an inlet 1 and an outlet at a higher level than the inlet, a filament within said body,

connections electr c current to said fi ment, and means said canopy with its inlet in alinement with said-aperture, substantially as set forth.

18. In a gas lamp, a support, an inverted cup-shaped canopy carried thereby andhaving an aperture near its top, atubularigniter open" at the bottom and having an outlet aboVe-the level thereof, and means for securing said igniter to said canopy independently of said supportin an upright position with its bore n allnement with said aperture and its outlet outside of the canopy,-

i'fifi said igniter comprising a filament and connections for applying an electric current thereto, substantially as set forth.

19. In a gas lamp, a gas supply outlet, an ignition chamber having an inlet 4 9i in the path of gas issuing from said'outlet,

an ignition filament within said chamber, and a baifie close to said filament'and between-it and said gas outlet, the width of said bafiie being substantially greater than that of the.'activegport1on 'of said filament outlet, an ignition chamber having an admitting air to sald filament and'for-permittmg the dis charge of products of combustion from said a conductive filament than the bore :of-

T forth.

as set forth.

burner-head,

a from said burner head, an

'jacent' in the path 'stantially as set forth.

for securing said body to plying an electric'curre rect toward said having whereby the latter isprot'ected against' 'exeessive temperatures during ignition, sub stantially as set forth.

20. In a gas lamp, a gas et in the path of gas issuing an ignition filament within baflie between sa'd filament supply having an A from said outlet, said chamber, a p and said gas outlet, and one or more inlets adjacent said file-1.

*ment and opening directly tothe atmosphere for. admission of atmospheric air; thereto, substantially asset forth.

.21. An igniterhaving an ignition chamber, a'filamen't' therein, means for a to saidfilament and between it and the'gas supply, the width of saidibafiie being substantially greater than that of the: active portion of said filament, substantially as set 22. An igniter her, a filament therein, means for apply ng an electric currentthereto," a bafile between said filament and the gas supply, and one or more inlets adjacentv said filament and .opening directly tothe atmosphere for'admissubstantially sion' of atmospheric air-thereto,

l 23.v A burner having an-inlet in the path of gas .issuing ignition filament within ,said chamber and abafile between said filament and said burner forth.

24. In a gas lam a gas supply havingan outlet, an ignition chamber having an inlet of gas iss ing from said outlet, filament within said chamber, betweensaid filament and said the filament, subanrignition and a-baflle gas outlet and adjacent 25. In 'a gas lamp, an filament therein,'means for applying an electric current thereto, and a baflie between said filament and the gas supply and ad a--- substantially asset forth.

ignition means comament, means for apt thereto, means for the said filament cent the filament,

26. In a gaslam prising acatalytic.

setting up in the vicinity ofa current of air and gas mixture and directing the same past the filament at one side thereof, saidmeans serving also to difilament a current of at. inospheric airtransverse to said current of air and .gas mixture, substantially as set forth. l

. 27.-In agas lamp, ignition'means comprising a catalytic filament, means for applying an electric current thereto, means for directing toward said filament alcurrent ofatmospheric air and adlstmctcurrent of air and gasmix tu're moving transversely therefen-preventingsaid currents from having an ignition? cham head, an ignition chamber head and'ad- -the filament, substantially. as set for p y an electric current thereto, and a be e close ignition chamber, a

mixing prior to arriving in the immediate vicinity of the filament, substantially as set forth. 1

and gas mixture, said currents approaching said filament from and being prevented from mixing prior to arriving in the immediate vicinity of the filament, substantially as set forth.

29. In a gas lamp, the combination of a burner head, a canopy above the same and provided with an aperture, an ignition chamber having a gas inlet communicating with said aperture, an air inlet and a heated filament adjacent thereto, said moving gas and and heated filament acting in con'unction to draw air through said air mlet, substantially as set forth.

30. In a gas lamp, the combination of a burner head, an ignition chamber having a gas inlet above the level of said burner head an air inlet, a conductive filament in said chamber ad acent said air inlet, and a bafiie between said filament and said gas inlet, whereby the filament when heated causes air to be drawn into the chamber through said air inlet, substantially as set forth.

his specification signed and witnessed this 28th day of Jan. 1910.

HOWARD LYON.

Witnesses:

J. H. JoHNsoN, R. B. WAsmNeToN. 

